 The Earl of Hellgate is an imaginary character in Pleasure for Pleasure, but there was an earl, the sixth Earl of Barrymore, who was known by just that nickname. Hellgate lived from 1769-1793. He was one of a wild family (his sister was known as Billingsgate for her foul language, and one of his brothers, later a minister, was known as Newgate in reference to the one prison he hadn't graced with his presence). The real Hellgate was a noted jockey, who set up his own stables at age 18, lost thousands of pounds in bets and in the fine tradition of a romantic hero, ran away to Gretna Green with a girl who was neither an heiress nor particularly well-born.
This is Eloisa's Egg #3 - "collect" them all!  |
